Automatic musical instrument.



P. A. BAYLESS. AUTOMATIO MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1908.

943,909. Patented De0.2 1,1909.

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Patrick 17. Ban less.

i To all whom it mag concern:

UNITED sTArns PATENT OFFICE.

I PATRICK A. BAYLESS, OF OKLAHOMA. CITY, OKLAHOMA.

AUTOMATIC MUSI Application filed July, 11,

Be it known that I, PATRICK A. BAYLESS, a citizen of the United States, .residing at Oklahoma City, in the county of Oklahoma and State. of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

' This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments, and particularly to an automatic tempo and tone interpreter for automatic musicalinstruments.

f The object of this invention is the provision. of means for facilitating the changing of the speed of the'music roll across the [tracker bar, and thereby giving the music and tempo.

It is to be understood that device .or mechanism is operated from perforations in the sheet or roll music. Furthermore, my

invention changes the tempo automatically, \Vith these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top lan view of the mechanism depicted in ig. 1. 'Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the mechanism depicted in Fi 1. Fig. 4is a fragmentary, sectional View 0 the" mechanism depicted in Fig. 2, and showing particularly the device for controlling the tone.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the drive-shaft,'to which is secured a primary'friction disk 2, which disk is engaged by the auxiliary friction disk or wheel 3, that is fixedly secured to the auxiliary drive-shaft 4. The auxiliary driveshaft 4 is provided, preferably, witn a pair of extensions or collars 5, between which ex tends an extension 6 formed on the bottom of a toothed or gear rack 7. The innerend of the auxiliary shaft-lie slidably mounted Specification of Letters Patent.

CAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented Dec. 2;, 1909. 1908. Serial No. 443,027.

in a sleeve 8, which sleeve is provided with an elongated slot or opening 9, within which is positioned a pin 10; the pin 10 is secured to shaft 4:, so that while the shaf-t'may be slid back and forth in sleeve 8, still the sleeve Sand shaft 1 willbe locked against independent rotary movement. The sleeve 8 carries or is attached to the roll of music, so that it enables disks 2 and 3 to control the travel of the music across the tracker-bar. Meshing with the rack 7 is a cog-wheel 11, 'which wheel is'fixedly secured to a main shaft '12. Secured near one end of shaft 12 is a ratchet-wheel 13, which ratchet-wheel is provided with right and left peripherally- The shaft 12 is journaled upon suitable hearings or supports 16 and the entire mech anism is supported by any suitable frame -which framework 17 can be attached to any suitable part of the instrument in which the apparatus or mechanism is placed.

Bellows or pneumatics 18 and 19 are secured together, and hollow tubes or pipes 20 place the same in communication with the air trunk, so that when a pneumatic is controlled by a perforation of the sheet music passing across the tracker-bar, one of the bellows or pneumatics 18 and 19 will be operated,for causingone of the pawls 21 to engage a ratchet-tooth on wheel 13, and thereby rotate the wheel in one direction. Each pawlor dog 21 is pivotally mounted, at 22, upon a supporting-plate or member 23, which is attached to a bellows or pneumatic. A spring 24; slidably engages-near one end, the under face of a dog, and is secured near its opposite end to a supporting-plate or member 23, whereby an n ward pressure is exerted upon each dog su 'ciently to place the inner end 24 in engagement witha ratchet-tooth .on double-toothed wheel 13 when the bellows is collapsed. Consequently, by means of the nected to the air-chest or trunk, as the sheetmusic passes over the tracker-bar, the ratchet-wheel 13 will be operated for causing the rack 7 to pass back and forth under the cog-wheel 11, and ga e or control the posi- 3 upon the frictional disk 2, relative to shaft 1 and the outer edge of said disk 2, whereby the s' eed of the sleeve 8 carrying the music, will arranged gear-'teeth'l t and 15, respectively.

work as indicated by dotted lines, at 17,

bellows or pneumatics 18 and 19 being contion of the auxiliary rictional wheel or disk automatically controlled, for it will i be obvious that when the frictional disk}! is.

Cir

eases-o near the outer edge of disk 2, the speed will i vided with rightand left teeth, which are Q engaged by pneumatic or hellows-actuated be greatly increased, whereas the speed will decrease as the frictional disk 9 toward the center of disk 2. Plus or rods '25 are so arranged as to disengage the pawls is moved or dogs 21, when the bellows or pneumatics i are not working.

An eccentric or cam 20 is fixedly secured to the main shaft 12, near one end, and said 5 eccentric is placed in engagement with the upper or inner end of the threaded member 1 or bolt 17, which threaded member is slidi ably mounted in an aperture of the inverted.

substantially Vehaped bracket 28, which bracket is carried by the w1ndchest 29. The I chest 29 is provided with an opening or inlet 30, which is normally closed by the valvemember 3i, which is fixed to the inner or lower end of the threaded member 27. A nut or locking-member 32 is threaded upon the stem or member 27, and between the nut 23 and the bracket 28 is positioned a yieldable member, as for instance, spring 33-, which normally holds the valve 31 closed,

but the valve can be quickly opened by the cam or eccentric 26 being rotated through the medium of the shaft 12 whereby the tone of the instrument is controlled, by varying the vacuum tension in the govern bellows causing the music or tones to be varied in. accordance with the music or perforations of the sheet that is passing across the trackerbar. it will, therefore, be obvious that through the medium of this structure, the tone of the music will be synchronously regulated with the time or tempo of the'music which is being played, thereby producing the desired result as set forth in one of the foregoing stated objects of my invention.

The object of the nut or threaded member 32 is to control the tension of the spring 33, which acts as a safety device to keep the pumps from imperfectly performing their function. The movement of the valve member 31 depends entirely upon the amount which the eccentric or cam 26 is rotated, and it will, therefore, be seen. that as a result of the amount of movement of wheel 13, the valvcanember 31 will be moved, resulting in a large and continuous opening, for thefarther the valve-member 31 is moved from the outlet valve or port 80, the greater the amount of air permitted to pass through said outlet and port or valve-opening.

It is to be understood that the bellows or pneumatics 18 or 19 are so arranged that when the air is pumped out of the same, they collapse, causing the dogs or pawls carried thereby to engage the ratchet of wheel 13, resulting in the movement of said Wheel, either to the right or left, according to the bellows or pneumaticthat is in action.

From the foregoing description, it is to be undcrstoor that the ratchet-wheel. preor air-trunk, and, consequently,*

be]? as ratchet-wheel I mean a rotatable.

'or close, they move dogs or pawls and that the bellows or pneumatics are connected, through the medium of pipes or tubes to the. air trunks, so that as each is operated, the particular bellows or pneumatic will also be operated for mung ing the time and tone of the note. Through the medium of the eccentric or cam, the tension in the vviml-chest is increased or lowered, by closing or openin the valve member according to the 1'01 1 .cpiired by the music that is being phi ml l, the nstru ment.

The operation is as follows: When the instrument is in action, tacro a vzuuum in the wind-chest at the time the sheet or roll music is traveling acrors the traclmnbar. As pneumatics or bellows l8 and t9 operate ichet or toothed wheel 13 in the direction according to the pneumatic or bellows that in operation, whether to the rig or left, resulting in the rotating of shaft 1 and the moving of the toothed rack 7, and, consequently, through the medium of the frictional disk 3, chang ing the speed of the sheet as it travels across the tracker-bar,

it is to be understood that in the fore 'oing specification, when l reli-r to the menin'icmber, for it will be obvious that a solid disk with the ratchet-teeth upon its periphery perform. the same function, and besides, when I refer to the member 3 as a disk, it will also be obvious that a. spokcd wheel performs the same function as a dish, and, consequently, I do not wish it. to be understood that I limit my invention to the specific eic-- mcnt; ordinarily contemplated whcn these words or terms are used.

llhen the device is working as a tone ulator or interpreter, it alw: returns to it normal position, or where it started from by having perforations, at the end of each piece of music.

What I claim is:

l. in an automatic musical instrument. the combination with a music sheet, and a tracker bar, of sheet-music driving means, a shaft, a cogwheel secured to said shaft, means adjustably connecting thc driving means to said cog-wheel, whereby when said cog-wheel is rotated, the speed of travel of said driving-means will be varied, and meansfor automatically rotating said cog-wheel, as a sheet of music is passed by the trackerbar.

2. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of sheetmusic driving means, a gear-wheel, a ratchet wheel positioned contiguous to said gear wheel, means connecting said gear-wheel to said sheet-music driving means, means :issociated with said sheet music drivingmcans, whereby when said gear-wheel'jis rotated, the speed of travel of the sheet-music driving means will be varied, a bellowsor pneumatic, and a dog or pawl, carried by said bellows and capable of engaging the ratchet of said wheel for imparting rotary movement thereto. i

3. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with sheet-driving means,

of a ratchet-wheehfimeans connecting 'said' driving means, means a'ssrmiatedwith said- 1 bellows jratchet-wheel, each bellows provided with a sheet-driving means, whereby when said wheel is rotated, the speed of movement of the sheet-driving means will be varied, bellows or pneumatics positioned contiguous to said wheel, and means carried by each bellows for engaging some of the teeth of the ratchet-whee 5. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of movable sheet-driving means, a ratchet-wheel, means connecting said ratchet-wheel to said sheet; driving means, means associated with said sheetdriving means, whereby when said ratchet wheel is rotated, the speed of movement of said driving means will be varied,a bellows or pneumatic positioned contiguous to said wheel, 'a spring-pressed pawl or dog pivot-ally mounted upon'said bellows and adapted to engage a tooth of said ratchetwheel when said bellows is collapsed.

6. In anQautomat-ic musical instrument, the combination with movable sheet-driving means, of a ratchet-wheel provided with right and left arranged teeth, a pluralityof positioned contiguous to said supporting-member or plate, a dog or pawl pivotally mounted upon each plate, means exerting an upward or outward pressure upon each dog, and means associated with said sheet-drivingmeans, whereby when. a bellows is collapsed, a dog will engage atootli of the ratchet-wheel and thereby rotatc the same for varying thespeed of travel of the sheet-driving means.

7. In an automat1cf.mus1cal lnstrument, thecombinatmn with sheet drivmg means,

of a ratchet-wheel, means connectingssaidn ratchet wheel and sheet-driving means, means associated with said sheet-driving means, whereby when the ratchet-wheel is rotated, the speed of travel of the sheetdriving means will be varied, a pair of bellows positioned together, and placed contiguous to the ratchet-wheel, each bellows provided upon its outer side with a supporting-member, a dog pivotally connected to the supporting-member, a spring secured at Tone end to the supporting-member and slidably engaging near its outer or opposite end the dog, 'wherebywhen a bellows is collapsed, the dog will engage a tooth or teeth of the ratchet-wheel and rotate thel same in one direction. l

8. In an automatic musical instrument,

.means travels over said tracker-bar.

,9. In an automatic musical'instrument, the combination with sheet-music drivingmeans, of automatic tone modifying means cooperating with said driving means and ada ted to be actuated as a sheet driven by sai driving-means passesbythe tracker-bar. 10. In anautomatlc musical instrument,

" the combination with a tracker bar, of sheet driving means, bellows or pneumatic means adapted to be actuated when a sheet passes by said tracker bar, and means cooperating with said sheet-supportmg means and adapted to be actuated by said bellows, for regul'ating the time and tempo of the music to be played.

11. In an automatic musical instrument the combination with a tracker bar, of a sheet music driving means, bellows or pneumatic means adapted to be actuated when a sheet passes by said tracker bar, rotatable means cooperating with said sheet-driving means and provided with a plurality of right-"and left extending ratchet teeth formed upon theperiphery thereof, and means carried by said bellows and adapted to engage said ratchet teeth for rotating said rotatable means in opposite directions and thereby regulating .the tone and tempo of the music to beplayed. In testimony whereof-I hereunto afiix my signature in presence 0t two witnesses.

PATRICK A. BAYLESS. I

Witnesses:

J. A. BRANIFF, ARTHUR 0. Hum. 

